



Class ^l.o7i)__ 
Book._.iija-^Sl___ 
Copyright N"_5"ii_J3uii. 



cxiPiiRiGin' DEPosrn 

, OS 



Copyright 
S. U. 503 Association 
November, 1920 



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Clark, Crlenn \4 



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— OF- 



The U. S. Army Ambulance Service 
With The French Army 



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S)CI.A604135 



DEC 



-d 1920 



The Emblem of Section 503 was designed by Private 
DeForest L. Egner and adopted by the Section in April, 
1918, in the Champagne Sector of the Marne Battlefield. 

The Emblem of Section 503 consisted of a black eagle 
with outstretched wings, rising against a backgi-ound of 
a blood-red setting sun, on a white oblong field. In each 
of the lower corners of the field is a blue star. 

In the Emblem of Section 503, the setting sun signifies 
the waning military strength of the Allies ; the rising eagle, 
the increasing strength of America coming into action, and 
the two stars, the combined French and American Service, 
the dual Service of Section 503. 



^^j|[^est j^e jf'orget 



A HISTORY 



OF 



SECTION 503 

OF 

The U. S. Army Ambulance Service 
with the French Army 



By the Committee on History 
of the S. S. U. 503 Association 



all|f (HammtttPf on i^iatnrg 

GLENN W. CLARK, Editor 

DOUGLAS J. McHENRY, Assistant Editor 

FRANCIS F. BODINE, Historian 



Lieutenant Joseph W. Gardam 
Lieutenant Lars S. Potter Lieutenant Hugh J. Bubb 

Sergeant John E. Scalley 
Sergeant James G. Mackey Corporal George G. Allison 



Barron, Alexander M. 
Bates, C. Sheldon 
Bodine, Fi'ancis F. 
Boyle, Hugh A. 
Brown, James R. 
Brown, William J. 
Clark, Glenn W. 
Cook, Abram 
Don, Edward 
Dougherty, Joseph L. 
Egner, DeForest L. 
Flindt, Walter 
Gorham, Anthony F. 
Hayes, Fullwood P. 
Hayes, Herbert W. 
Hill, James D. 
Hess, Arthur R. 

Youngei', 



Hodges, John H. 
Joachim, Edward E. 
Jones, Frederick 
Luquet, Emil F. 
McHenry, Douglas J. 
McKenna, John 
Marshall, Robert 
Martin, Alex. M., Jr. 
Martin, Geo. W., Jr. 
Myatt, Cecil 
Smith, Jasper T. 
Sharman, Frederick T. 
Treanor, Robert 
Turner, Robert W. 
Weaver, Ira L 
Weidler, Raymond R. 
Winkler, Charles 
Albert W. 




M^ 






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V5 

o 






3Formpr Mtmbtrz 

Balthis, Philip S. S. U. 649 

Bodenhorn, Lloyd S. S. U. 517 

Bocknofsky, Solomon - - - - - S. S. U. 517 

Casto, Rex Paris 

Floro, Louis S. S. U. 517 

Oehi-ing-, Fred Paris 

Van Sciver, Joseph Paris 

Heilman, Emerson ----- Discharged 



itattng«ial|p& t« Att!an 

Champagne Sector 

Mackey, Sergeant James G. 
Allison, Corporal George G. 
Barron, Private Alexander M. 
Bates, Private C. Sheldon 
Don, Private Edward 
Flindt, Private Walter 
Weaver, Private Ira I. 



Oise-Aisne Sector 

Bodine, Private Francis F. 
Boyle, Private Hugh A. 
Brown, Private James R. 
Dougherty, Private Joseph L. 
Egner, Private DeForest L. 
Younger, Private Albert W. 



"(Hd Arms" 

The Exhortation before the battle of the Champa^e of July, 1918, 
to the soldiers of the Fourth French Army, by General Gouraud, who fore- 
saw, with remarkable clarity of vision, the vastness of the coming struggle. 



le 11. July, 1918. 
ORDER 
To the French and American Soldiers of the Fourth Army: 

We may be attacked at any moment. You know that never will a 
defensive battle be fought under more favorable circumstances. We are 
forewarned and we are on guard. We are powerfully re-inforced with 
Infantry and Artillery. 

You will fight on ground which by your continuous work has been 
transformed into a formidable fortress — a fortress invincible if all the 
passages are well guarded. 

The bombardment will be severe, with clouds of dust and smoke and 
gas, but your position and your armament are formidable. 

In your breasts the courageous and strong hearts of brave men beat. 

No one will look behind, no one will give way. There will be but one 
thought — to kill a great many until they have had enough and that is why 
your General says to you, "You will break down this assault and it will 
be a gieat day." 



GRAND QUARTIER GENERAL 

des Armees 
du Nord et du Notd-Est 

ETAT-MAJOR 

BUREAU DU PERSONNEL 

(Decorations) ORDRE No. 10,887 "D." (Extrait) 



Apres approbation du General Commandant en Chef les Forces 
expeditionnaires Americaines en France, le General Commandant en 
Chef les Armees Fran^aises du Nord et du Nord-Est, cite a I'Ordre 
dela DIVISION: 



SECTION SANITAIRE AMERICAINE 503: 

"Sous les oi-di-es du Lieutenant Americain Lars 
POTTER et du Sous-Lieutenant J. JOURDAN de la 
PASSARDIERE, a, pendant I'attaque du 15 au 18 Juillet 
1918, assure avec la plus grande bravoure et un mepris 
absolu du danger dans des circumstances particulierement 
difficiles, I'evacuation des blesses de la Division, donnant 
des preuves d'un inlassable courage et d'un reniarquable 
esprit de Coi-ps." 



Au Grand Quartier General, le 25 Octobre 1918. 

POUR EXTRAIT coNFORME: ^' ^^""''^^ Commandant en Chef, 

Le Lieutenant-Colonel, ClioTio- PPT ATM 

Chef du Bureau du Per«,„nei. ^^^^ " DETAIN. 



"ICffit Wt Jorgft" 




HORTLY after the declaration of war on Germany by the gov 
ernment of the United States there arrived in America a French 
High Commission. According to divers accounts, this Commis- 
sion had stated that the French military forces were urgently 
in need of ambulance trains, and an immediate organization of 
an Ambulance Service would be one of the speediest and most effective 
forms of assistance America could render the Allies. A few weeks later a 
call for volunteers for an Ambulance Service was issued by officers 
appointed to organize such a Service, temporary headquarters being 
established at Cooper Battalion Hall, Philadelphia. 

The site selected by the government for a camp for the Sei-vice was 
the Fair Grounds at Allentown, Pennsylvania. Allentown is a small city 
on the banks of the Lehigh river ; a flourishing industrial centre, populated 
for the most part by the thrifty Pennsylvania Germans. Besides many 
industries, the city contained a University, a number of colleges, and the 
Fair Grounds where each year were held the celebrated Allentown Fairs. 
These grounds were located on the edge of the city and made an ideal 
place for a military camp. Several large exhibition buildings gave promise 
of an easy transformation into barracks. The large brick grandstand had 
a large area beneath the seats which could be utilized as a mess hall, while 
the race track was a natural drill gi-ound. 

During the first week of June groups of recruits began to reach the 
camp. From north and south, east and west, came these bands of youths 
still clad in civilian clothes, having forsaken the colleges and universities, 
the farms and the workshops and the business offices ; throwing away their 
books, casting aside their hoes and their tools, closing their ledgers and 
removing the trusty pens from their ears — all in one mad rush for military 
glory. Third among these groups to arrive in camp was Section 3, com- 
posed largely of Philadelphia boys. 

Almost immediately upon the arrival of the Section in camp there 
commenced that important phase of military life known as "details." 
"Details" is a military term applied to every form of labor imaginable. 
Like the Biblical "Charity" its interpretation is far reaching. There were 
kitchen details, sanitary details, ditch-digging details, and other details, 
far too numerous to record. 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

Practically the first detail of Section 3 was the task of transforming 
the former exhibition buildings into habitable barracks. The fruit and 
vegetable stands, the pigeon and dove cotes, the well bedded stables of 
full-blooded stock, and the soiled and heavily perfumed quarters of pedi- 
greed swine were soon to become the homes of aspiring young ambulance 
drivers, and had to be thoroughly cleansed. So the Section, along with 
other Sections, cleaned up the camp. 

Later on, as the Service developed into a thorough military organi- 
zation, the Section became officially designated as Section 503. Regular 
drill hours were established and an officer, Major Floyd, was appointed in 
charge of the Section temporarily. George W. Martin became sergeant 
first-class with Abram Cook as corporal. For duty sergeant there was 
.-appointed John E. Scalley, a person of somewhat large physical proportions, 
with a deliberate and mature air, and a tinge of humor, indicative of 
Irish ancestry. Sergeant Scalley, on account of certain physical advantages 
over the average-sized man, could not at first obtain a complete issue of 
uniform and thusly was enabled to forego drills for a time. 

After the issue of uniforms. Lieutenant Lane was in charge of the 
temporary Battalion of which Section 503 was a unit. Before this, how- 
ever, the Section was assembled early one morning for exercises when there 
strolled up a youthful looking chap whom Shakespeare might have styled, 
"yon beardless youth." Indeed, the frank boyishness of his countenance 
seemicd rather incongruous with the impression of dignity conveyed by 
the silver bar on his shoulder. Addressing the Section he informed them 
he was the newly appointed Section commander. So entered into the 
career of Section 503, 1st Lieutenant Joseph William Gardam. 

In July Captain Ward Brinton replaced Lieutenant Lane as commander 
of the Battalion which now had become a permanent unit known as Bat- 
talion 19. Section 503 was senior Section of, and Lieutenant Gardam senior 
lieutenant in, the Battalion. Then, on July 18th, a day after the personnel 
of the Battalion had received its second inoculation for typhoid fever. 
Captain Brinton started with his Battalion and one other for the Battlefield 
of Gettysburg. 

About eleven in the morning the hike commenced. On the first day, 
approximately six miles were covered by actual marching; then the two 
Battalions were loaded in a train of ambulances, which had followed the 
column, and were carried to Reading. The end of the second day's march 
brought the column to Lancaster; the third to York; and the fourth. 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

Gettysburg. There camp was made, the shelter tents being pitched on the 
Battlefield in the vicinity of the "Bloody Angle" on the Union side of 
the field. 

The Battalions were allowed three days of rest and an opportunity 
was given to explore the historic fields. Then, on the morning of the 26th, 
camp was broken, and the return journey begun. At York a most enthu- 
siastic reception was accorded the Ambulance Sections by the officials 
and citizens of that city. 

After the return to Allentown, Battalion 19 was placed in the Second 
Overseas Contingent under the command of Major J. R. Devereaux. Section 
503 was then quartered in the pigpens. The preparation for an immediate 
departure was feverishly and energetically begun. Overseas equipment 
was issued; the personnel of the Section was increased from thirty-six to 
forty-five men; and another sergeant was appointed in each Section, 
Private James G. Mackey receiving the appointment in 503; the Section 
property was packed in boxes, unpacked and repacked again; and several 
parades and inspections were held by the Colonel of the Service and Major 
Devereaux. 

It was just about this time that "Old General Rumor," that bugbear 
of all military organizations, began to manifest his presence in a mighty 
fashion. "General Rumor" is the Supreme Being of the army, the com- 
mander-in-chief so to speak, for all men, from the highest officer to the 
most stubborn buck private, bow to his authority and are his victims. 
There was no definite or reliable information as to the future movements 
of the Contingent, thanks to the "General." Many times daily, reports 
reached the Section, varying in contents from, "the departure of the Con- 
tingent tonight," to "sailing orders have been cancelled and the Contingent 
Vv'on't leave camp before spring." A careless word by an officer at mess 
was liable to throw the entire Contingent into paroxysms of wild rejoicing, 
or extreme despair, according to the moods and ability of "General Rumor's 
orderlies" who were circulating this "inside dope." 

However, the Second Overseas Contingent was supposed to sail about 
the first of September, but the departure was indefinitely postponed. So 
Battalions 19 and 20 went on another hike, this time to Mauch Chunk. 
The first day's march brought the Battalions to Palmerton, a small village. 
On entering this village it was learned that the citizens desired to honor 
the Battalion commander by inviting him to parade his command through 
the town. Nothing loath, the Captain, who had a weakness for parades. 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

consented, feeling, on his part, that he was honoring the citizens. Conse- 
quently, because these two important factors, the Battalion commander 
and the citizens, mutually desired to honor each other, the parade was held, 
although from the viewpoint of the buck private the honor was of dubious 
aspect; at least as far as the latter was concerned. 

Footsore and weary the men "slung packs" and in accompaniment to 
the tune of an antiquated brass band, the parade commenced. Guided by 
a rustic individual who knew his town thoroughly, the column marched 
up and down every street and over Main Street twice for good measure. 
Every time the village school house and other public buildings, which 
boasted a flag-pole were passed, the Captain tersely ordered "eyes right!" 
and stiffly saluted. Finally, the town having been thoroughly scoured, the 
citizens appeased, and the Battalion commander convinced there were no 
more flag-poles to salute, the Battalions were marched to a park where 
camp was established. 

The following morning the hike was resumed and Mauch Chunk was 
reached early in the afternoon. A camp was maintained for a few days 
outside of the town along the old Switchback. The Battalions were then 
recalled to Allentown and sent to Betzwood, where the entire Overseas 
Contingent had established a temporary camp on the bank of the Schuylkill, 
a few miles from Valley Forge. It was there that Captain Brinton 
attempted to have a "right by ambulance" drill, but after an hour's 
exhibition of some of the wildest driving ever seen, he decided to abandon 
his eff'orts along that line and return to the less dangerous "right by fours." 

On the return to Allentown from Betzwood, Section 503, with the other 
units of Battalion 19, was transferred to the Third Overseas Contingent 
which was commanded by Major Francis T. Metcalfe. Captain Brinton 
then left Battalion 19. On the last day of October, the Third Overseas left 
the camp, marched out into the country for five miles, and established the 
renowned "Guth Station" camp. This camp consisted mainly of dug-outs, 
constructed by the men, and it was not long before Guth Station assumed 
the general aspect of a sector of the Western Front. "Guth's" was the 
first of its kind in the United States; photographs of the camp were pub- 
lished in many of the leading periodicals of the country, and large crowds 
visited it weekly. 

Lieutenant Morton, later Captain Morton, was in command of Battalion 
19, replacing Captain Brinton. On reaching the camp site at Guth Station, 
the Section pitched its tents on a field covered with weeds and mud. In 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

a few days the weeds had been trampled away, but the mud remained, 
to the detriment of personal comfort. Later on several of the Sections 
occupying dugouts, left the place, 503 moved into the vacated quarters 
and existed in a little better fashion. 

There is much to be said of Guth Station, much that will never be 
forgotten by those who spent November of 1917 there. Probably the most 
noted feature was the stretcher-bearing and first-aid drills. Every morn- 
ing all men who were not on detail reported for drill. They were divided 
into three lots. One set was the wounded, another the sanitary squad, 
and the third the stretcher-bearers. The officers, naturally, were the 
doctors. A field hospital was placed on one spot; some distance up the 
road the ambulances were stationed; and beyond over the hill, was the 
regimental dressing station. 

The wounded, all of whom were tagged with various wounds sup- 
posedly theirs, were taken out and scattered over the fields, behind rocks, 
in holes, and under the brush in every position gi'otesque and picturesque, 
according to the imagination of the officer arranging the "stage." Then 
the sanitary men were sent out in small groups to locate the wounded, 
render first-aid treatment, and carry them in to the regimental dressing 
station. There, after the doctors had fought over the case till the patient 
would have died, had he been actually Vvounded, the stretcher-bearers 
placed him on a stretcher and carried him to the ambulances. 

Now, due to the wise and careful selection of the various groups at 
the commencement of the drill, it not infrequently happened that a six-foot 
heavyweight was the patient, while four medium-sized unfortunates were 
the stretcher-bearers. As the scene of this vast manoeuvre was a rugged, 
stony spot covered by undergrowth and maiked with little valleys and 
hills, the task of the stretcher-bearers was not an easy one. Although 
the patient was perfectly willing to walk over the worse portions of the 
route, disliking to lie at ease on the stretcher and listen to the muttered 
curses of the bearers, and run the risk of being dumped over into the 
mud, yet was he prevented from so doing because of the fact that certain 
of the officers, neglecting their medical duties, kept an eye on the stretchers 
for the explicit puipose of preventing any such infractions of the drill 
regulations. When the stretchers reached the ambulance station, they 
were loaded in the ambulances and carried to the field hospital. There, 
after a brief inspection, the erstwhile patients were unceremoniously 
dumped on the giound and ordered to report back to their camp. 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

The Guth Station camp was broken on December 8th, and the Sections 
returned to Allentown, marching in through a blinding snowstorm. One 
of the new barracks was assigned to 503, which, however, was not much 
of an improvement over Guth Station, as it had neither heat nor ligiit for 
a time. Two weeks later a quarantine was placed on the Third Overseas 
Contingent. As the country was then in the grip of a fierce, icy winter, 
with an abundance of snow, the restrictions of the camp were not as great 
a hardship as it would have been in fairer weather. The deprivation of 
the amusements of Allentown rendered the confinement a little irksome 
but this monotony was partly relieved by camp details during the day and 
entertainments at the "Y" hut at night. Also there were various methods 
of slipping through the quarantine and many of the men surreptitiously 
left camp for a night's frolic in town. 

All along, as during the latter part of the summer, "Old General 
Rumor" was especially active. The placing of the quarantine and the can- 
celling of the ten-day Christmas passes had given the rumors an authentic 
aspect. On the other hand forty-eight hour passes were issued at Christ- 
mas; New Year's Day arrived with no indication of departure; and on 
Friday, the 4th of January, Section 503 went on guard with fatigue duty 
two days later. All these latter events seemed to belie the auspicious 
indications. 

Finally on Tuesday, January 8th, all the Sections of the Contingent 
were recalled to their barracks and ordered to pack. Joyously this was 
done. At two o'clock the next morning the Third Overseas left Allentown, 
after a midnight lunch in the mess hall and a silent trip through the 
deserted, snow-covered streets of the city. As the train slowly moved 
away from the station the minds of the fellows turned to the city they 
were leaving. No more would they stroll down Hamilton Street to the 
Philadelphia restaurant, or the movies; no more would they pass away 
Sunday afternoons v.'ith fair companions in Central Park ; no more nocturnal 
frolics in Emaus; no more, for many a day, would these lads enjoy such 
gay times as those just past. The carefree, easy life was to give place 
to the grim realities of actual warfare ; war stripped of all its camouflage ; 
war horrible and dreary and monotonous, with long nights of ceaseless 
driving, days spent in bare, desolate trenches; possil:)ly bringing glory and 
honor to some, glory and eternal sleep to others, but to none the light and 
careless times in Allentown. 

The Contingent reached Jersey City on the morning of the ninth at 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

seven o'clock. Ferries carried the unit across the river to New York 
and before noon it had embarked on the Cunard liner, "Garmania." The 
"Garmania" sailed that afternoon at five o'clock, reaching Halifax a day 
later. There the transport joined with several other ships, forming a 
convoy, and sailed, being escorted by an American destroyer. 

As far as Section 503 was concerned the journey across the ocean was 
uneventful. The time on shipboard was taken up with life-boat drills, 
lectures, and verbal combats with English stewards. Once the "Garmania" 
nearly collided with a sister ship of the convoy. Another time a submarine 
was reported as being in the vicinity, but that may have been one of 
"General Rumor's official communiques," for the convoy was not molested. 
Off the coast of Ireland a group of sub-chasers met the convoy. The 
"Garmania" reached Livei-pool on the night of January 23rd, docking the 
next morning. 

Disembarking at ten in the morning, the Gontingent entrained and 
journeyed to Winchester, Hampshire Gounty. There the journey ended 
for the time, the destination being at Morn Hill Gamp, a British rest camp 
about three miles outside the city. Ten days were spent among the Tom- 
mies and their incessant jam and tea. Then a short and swift journey 
to Southampton and a long wait on the pier there. Several of the men 
of Section 503 discovered, and managed to purloin a few bottles of what 
the original Americans called "fire-water," while waiting for the boat. 
After an interminable delay, Battalion 19 went aboard a small steamer, 
the "Geasarea," which safely transported the unit to La Havre, France. 
Another British rest camp, more jam and tea, and then the Battalion was 
loaded on cars, waybilled as "cattle" and freighted to St. Nazaire. 

St. Nazaii'e! — that wonderful, home-like camp which was a veritable 
sea of mud with barracks from a distance appearing to be little groups 
of islands in the center of it. Section 503 reached the camp during the 
morning amidst a drizzling rain. A barracks was assigned but on closer 
inspection seemed more for the purpose of straining rain water than 
sheltering human beings. As it was performing its task diligently and 
consistently, another building was secured which was a slight improve- 
ment over the first. 

Section 503 spent five long weeks in the camp at St. Nazaire. Having 
come to France purely for the altruistic motive of assisting the French 
to win the war by driving ambulances gloriously over shell-torn roads, 
the Section soon learned that the immediate outlook on life consisted of 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

load mending, ditch digging, and stevedore work under the sohcitous 
guidance of buck privates who wore the insignia of the Engineers' Corps. 

At one time Section 503 was assigned to a train of Ford ambulances 
with which they were to make a trial trip. Early on a cool morning the 
Section marched down to the cars. The machines were to be warmed up 
and ready to start on the arrival of the Major. But the Fords were in 
an obstinate mood that morning. Evidently they disliked stirring on a 
cool morning as does the average soldier. When the venerable Major 
appeared only a few of them had been moved from their original places. 
The Major then decided to postpone the trip for twenty-four hours, rightly 
believing, judging by appearances, that the drivei's would need about that 
amount of time in which to finally have the machines started. 

Late in the morning of the following day the ambulance train was 
lined up and ready for the journey. The Major assembled the Section and 
issued a long list of instructions which he ordered obsei-ved closely. The 
men followed closely as he spoke, as is advisable when a major speaks, 
and they earnestly meant to obey him. But they reckoned without their 
Fords. The convoy started with some semblance of order; a short time 
later, however, only a straggling, scattered line of ambulances was travel- 
ling towards the destination, the drivers frantically endeavoring to stick 
together and yet observe the Major's multitudinous instructions. 

The journey ended in the little village of Guerande, where the machines 
were parked in the public square before an ancient gateway and walls, 
enclosing a portion of the town which dates back to the time of Charle- 
magne. The Major was in a furious mood. Calling the Section to atten- 
tion, he soundly berated them for the style of driving exhibited, saying 
that the drivers handled their cars like "Barney Oldfields," and terminating 
his lecture by likening 503 to a "bunch of bandits." Due, perhaps, to these 
severe criticisms, the trip back to the camp was a slight improvement; 
nevertheless another Section was assigned to the train of ambulances, and 
503 returned to the task of repairing roads and barracks in St. Nazaire. 

During the stay in St. Nazaire, several changes were made in the 
personnel of the Section. Coi^poral Cook was replaced by Private George 
Allison. Mechanics Castro, Oehring, Van Sciver, and Balthis were ordered 
to the Ambulance Garage in Paris, being permanently transferred. On 
March 16th, the Section left St. Nazaire, again travelling as human cattle. 
A few days before the departure, Private Robert W. Turner was stricken 
with acute appendicitis, which necessitated his removal to a hospital. 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

On St. Patrick's Day, 503 reached Ferrieves-en-Gatinais, a small village 
sixty kilometers from Paris. Ferrieres-en-Gatinais was a village of ancient 
renown because of the church and the monastery which looked down on 
it from the crest of a hill. According to the traditions of the place, early 
generations of the royal family of France were wont to visit this monastery 
to witness, and occasionally to participate in, various games and tourna- 
ments which were held there in the courtyard. But all this glory was past; 
the monks had long since departed, and those corridors and stone-flagged 
chambers which once echoed with the soft patter of their bare feet now 
rang with the hard clash of hobnailed shoes on the feet of huge warriors 
from over the seas. For the monastery, and its surrounding grounds, was 
the newly established Base Camp of the United States Army Ambulance 
Service. 

A day or two before leaving the camp, the Section was assembled 
to hear a lecture by an erstwhile enlisted man who had all the earmarks 
of a genuine "bull artist." This individual, who wore the bars of a first 
lieutenant, had seen several months' duty at the front as an ambulance 
driver. He had returned to Base Camp solely for the puiiDOse, to judge 
from his talk, of preparing the raw recruits for the conditions at the front. 
The lecture was interesting, if partly fictitious, and a wonderful masterpiece 
of oratory. As an accurate rendition of existing facts the discourse was 
a rank failure. Being somewhat exaggerated, perhaps, and highly color- 
ful, the tale gave proof of being the offspring of a mind under the control 
of an intensely active and well exercised imagination. But the lecturer 
acquainted 503 with one excellent idea, "System D," which Lieutenant 
Gardam took up and later developed wonderfully. 

On Saturday morning, before daylight, 503 arose, breakfasted, and 
marched down to the French equivalent of a railroad station. After the 
usual long wait, a train came along and stopped to take on the Section. This 
train was made up of first class coaches, a new feature in the traveling 
experience of the Section. During the journey to Paris, a little game of 
some thing or other was indulged in, to pass the time away. French coins 
with holes in the center, were the medium of exchange used and when 
the destination was reached the winner of the game paraded up the plat- 
form of the "Gare d'Orleans" with his fortune strung on a cord, to the 
excitement of the Parisiens in the station. But the Parisiens were already 
frantic; in fact a Parisien would not be a true citizen of his city were he 
not in a state of excitement continually. This day was the twenty-third 
of March and Section 503 entered Paris amidst what appeared to be a 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

daylight aerial raid. The city was quite perturbed by the mystery of this 
unusual occurrence and it was not till later in the day that the newspapers 
gave out the information that the Germans were shelling the city with 
a long range gun. 

When Section 503 reached the Ambulance Garage, there lined up was 
a train of twenty Ford ambulances, one Ford touring car, and one Ford 
truck, while in the mess hall of the Garage, a bounteous dinner was waiting. 
The dinner was disposed of first; then each fellow sat for his photograph 
which was to adorn both his personal identification card and that section 
of the Army Records office which is the counterpart of an American police 
rogues gallery. This process over with, the Section went out to the 
ambulances and drivers were assigned to them. 

The Section received orders to drive the train of cars to Vei-sailles 
the next morning, which was Palm Sunday, the twenty-fourth. Saturday 
night was free to the fellows who naturally set out to take in the sights 
as much as possible in the really short hours of liberty allotted them. As 
503 consisted of a bunch of lads of highly diversified tastes and fancies, the 
sights taken in were too widely varied to record. "L'alerte," a signal for 
an aerial attack, sounded at eight o'clock, but it would have taken far 
more than the dangers of a German bomb to have pried the lads of 503 
from their amusement that night. In the morning, however, every one 
had turned up, so Lieutenant Gardam managed to get the ambulance train 
to Versailles, in spite of Private Weaver's repeated practice of leading the 
latter half of the convoy on a wild goose chase along the boulevards of 
Paris. 

At Versailles Section 503 went under the orders of the French Army, 
and the official designation and military address of it was: 
S. S. U. 503, Convois Automobiles, Par B. C. M. 

There, too, the ambulances and cars were stencilled with the name of the 
Section, and as 503 gazed on its own title so prominently displayed on their 
own train of cars, the breast of every lad swelled to the fullest limit of his 
0. D. blouse. "Their own ambulance train at last!" For this they had 
endured the drills and the vv'earisome routine of Allentown, the hardships 
of the trip from America, the laborious work at St. Nazaire ; after all this 
the scene was to change at last. Amidst shell and bomb in war-wrecked 
areas, they were soon to engage in a daily struggle with the mule-like 
eccentricities of a Ford. 



"LEST WE FORCxET" 

For five days the Section rested in Versailles, spending the time sight- 
seeing and enjoying the delights of the cafes. Before Good Friday, Lieu- 
tenant Gardam received orders to proceed to the front, and in the morning 
of that day, 503 drove away from Versailles. Entering Paris by the Porte 
St. Cloud, the convoy passed out of the city some hours later, by the Porte 
de Paris, after a thrilling experience of driving in Parisien traffic, but 
succeeding in leaving the city with only a few minor collisions and one 
serious affair when Private Martin accidently bowled over a civilian. Meaux 
was reached finally and Sergeant Martin left for a four weeks' course at a 
school. Sergeant Scalley then became acting first sergeant. On the 30th 
of the month the Section arrived at Chalon-sur-Marne. 

Four weeks were spent just outside of Chalons-sur-Marne in the village 
of St. Martin-sur-le-Pre. The cantonement of 503 was established in an 
old barn which had been fitted up with bunks. These bunks were shared 
with a community of rats which had an unpleasant habit of conducting relay 
races in the dead of the night on the outstretched forms of the fellows. 
Then, too, a portion of the cantonement had formerly been a chicken roost, 
and the outraged fowls would attempt to regain their home every time 
the door was incautiously left open. Another nocturnal disturber of the 
peace of the Section was the German aviators who quite frequently raided 
Chalons-sur-Marne. Several of the lads, not yet hardened veterans, were 
bounced several inches off their bunks by either the concussion of the 
exploding bombs or the tense condition of their nerves, during the first 
experience of a night raid. But subsequent attacks found them dauntless, 
and it became the custom to get out of bed and go outside to watch the 
thrilling event. One of the boys even went out with a lighted lantern one 
night, to see the Germans, but his comrades were inclined to consider this 
an unwise practice, so he was persuaded to leave his lantern in his bunk. 

Another Section, S. S. U. 539, was quartered in the village with 503. 
The two Sections combined their kitchens and messes. On Easter Sunday 
an excellent dinner was served which was followed by a religious service in 
the mess hall. Later in the afternoon the new Easter bonnets, in the form 
of French steel helmets, and French gas masks were issued. Several days 
later an assignment of evacuation work at a French hospital, located some 
distance back of the lines at Billey-le-Grand, was given 503. This was to 
enable the drivers to acquire some practical experience before taking up 
evacuation work in advance zones of the front. 

The chief pastime at St. Martin-sur-le-Pre was walking along the canal 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

and Marne river, and going into Chalons-sur-Marne, to this latter place 
mainly for the purpose of shopping and other trivial motives. A sudden 
flurry in trade in that town was caused by a large demand for chauffeur's 
caps, map cases, field glasses, canes and cameras, by the drivers of the 
Section who earnestly desired to go forth to battle arrayed in all the 
accoutrements which, according to their imagination, were absolutely essen- 
tial to the position of an ambulance driver. 

To the regret of the Section, on April 18th, Lieutenant Gardam 
received orders to return to Base Camp, being relieved by 1st Lieutenant 
Lars S. Potter, a former member of the American Field Service who had 
received his commission at the C. L A. M. Lieutenant Gardam up to this 
time had been the only section commander 503 had. The Section was 
reluctant to have Lieutenant Gardam leave for he had been the friend, as 
well as commanding officer, of every man in the Section. A formal fare- 
well retreat was held on the evening of the 19th, at which time Sergeant 
Scalley, on behalf of the Section, presented Lieutenant Gardam with a 
gold wrist watch as a token of the high esteem in which he was held 
by 503. 

Several days later the Section was assigned to the 132nd Division of 
the 4th French Army, commanded by General Gouraud. 503 relieved 
S. S. U. 581. On April 29th, six cars proceeded to the front, taking over 
the G. B. D. or field hospital, which was located at Camp Quest, Suippes, 
and also the four advanced posts of the Division, known as "Posts-de- 
Secours." The remainder of the Section moved to Camp Noblette with 
S. S. U. 539. A week later both Sections' cantonement was moved to 
Bussey-le-Chateau. 

The 132nd Division was commanded by General Huguenot with whom 
Lieutenant Potter, in the old days of the American Field Service, had 
become acquainted. Consequently, General Huguenot was glad to welcome 
an ambulance section commanded by Lieutenant Potter, and he treated 
503 with marked attention. The Frenchmen of the division, too, exhibited 
an expressed degree of cordiality towards the Section. 

Up to the last of May, 503 and S. S. U. 539 had been sharing cantone- 
ments. At Bussy-le-Chateau the official dignity of the Section was greatly 
enhanced by the advent of a French staft' which consisted of Sous-Lieu- 
tenant, Jordan de la Passardiere, Sergent Robert Singer, Caporal-fourrier 
Henry Mauron, and Conducteur Pierre Chebero. Lieutenant Passardiere 
was officially presented to 503 at a formal retreat. Messieurs Singer, 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

Mauron, and Chebei'o were admitted into the Section in a less conspicuous 
fashion, after the ways of all democratic Republics whose worthy citizens 
worship social position in civilian life, and military rank in army circles. 
Later on the staff was increased by the addition of Cuisiner-chef Roger 
Tresneau and Cuisiner 2nd-chef Emil Sonrel. 

On May 29th, Sergeant Martin returned from the school at Meaux, 
and the following day, Sergeant Scalley left for there. On the 31st, the 
Section moved its cantonement to Camp Ouest, separating from S. S. U. 
539. Late that night Lieutenant Potter received orders to send six ambu- 
lances up to the front to relieve S. S. U. 633 in that section to the left 
of the Suippes sector. Early the following morning the ambulances, with 
Mechanic Marshall and led by Lieutenant Potter and French officers in 
the staff car, proceeded towards the village of Mourmeleon-le-Grande. After 
the convoy had turned off the Suippes-St. Hilaire road, an enemy obsei-va- 
tion balloon sighted the dust stirred up by the ambulances and immediately 
the convoy was shelled. However, it reached Mourmeleon-le-Grande safely, 
though the mental condition of the unseasoned drivers was, very likely, 
far from tranquil. But, from there on the cars travelled the remaining 
distance to the advance Post of M4 at five minute intei-vals. At the Post- 
de-Secours Centrale, M4, the ambulances halted. Later on in the day a 
car was sent forward to three Posts further advanced. Two cai's remained 
at M4 with Mechanic Marshall, the extra car returning to the cantonement 
the next day. All the other Posts of the Suippes sector were discontinued, 
with the exception of that at St. Hilaire which was maintained for several 
weeks longer. 

In the meanwhile, the Section had moved its cantonement to Camp 
Berthelot, a few kilometers from the village of Mourmeleon-le-Grande. 
Camp Berthelot was an ideal cantonement; clean, well ventilated, wooden 
barracks with electric lights and beds, a mess hall, good water, in fact 
all the necessities desired. The camp lay in the open country, more or less. 
From it extended the wide, green expanse of the Champagne, marked here 
and there with gi-oups of trees, with the dark outline of forests in the dis- 
tance. Dusty white roads intersected the view while in one direction 
gleamed the wide military road known as the "Rue General Retain." Up 
in the immediate front. Nature had concealed the destructive work of man 
with a luxurious carpet of red poppies which, according to the superstitions 
of the simple French peasants, grew only where the blood of men had 
been spilled. 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

The quietness of the hfe at Camp Berthelot was disturbed only by the 
distant thunder of the guns. Daily the blue skies were dotted with the 
white, creamy puffs of anti-aircraft shells seeking an enemy plane over- 
head. The affairs of the Section were running smoothly, ambulances on 
duty at the front being relieved every two days. Once a week Lieutenant 
Potter held inspection of the cars in camp and everything was kept in the 
highest state of efficiency. 

It was at the time the Section moved from Suippes that a fierce cam- 
paign was waged in 503. The issue was the question of having pinard 
purchased for the mess with Section funds. The issue was raised by the 
Prohibitionists of the Section headed by Private Barron, the "W. J. Bryan" 
of the Section. Lieutenant Potter referred the question to a vote. So the 
early days at Camp Berthelot were marked with a stubborn contest. Fore- 
runners of both sides waylaid all drivers returning from duty out on 
Posts, and besought votes. Many an appealing, cajoling, and long-winded 
argument was patiently borne by these returning drivers. But victory 
rested with the forces of Barron when the votes were counted, and the 
red-colored liquid was banished from the mess. 

The 132nd Division was relieved on June 17th, and the Section's can- 
tonement was moved to Vadenay. From there the first group of per- 
missionaires. Private Bates, Luquet, and Bodine, left for a seven days' 
furlough. Bates was bound for Aix-le-Bains, Luquet to visit relatives in 
Southern France, and Bodine for Paris. On account of the strict military 
regulations, furloughs to Paris were restricted to only soldiers having 
relatives there. Private Bodine, with an eye to the future, had secured 
the name and address or an elderly American Red Cross woman, when the 
Section had passed through Paris the preceding March. Temporarily 
adopting this lady as an aunt, he obtained the coveted permission of a 
seven-day leave in that gay and reckless city and departed for there, pre- 
sumably for the purpose of visiting the "aunt," very likely for a seven 
days' frolic amidst Parisien gayety. 

During the absence of these men the Section's cantonement was 
changed to Buoy. Just as the ambulance train drew up in the town, a 
loud explosion occurred. Shells and shell-casings whizzed through the air 
and the startled men fell flat on the ground. When the violence abated, 
Lieutenant Potter drove away to investigate. He returned with the infor- 
mation that an ammunition dump nearby had exploded. This affair, how- 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

ever, but marked the commencement of a consistent bombardment of 
Buoy by the enemy's long range artillery. On the outskirts of the town 
was a large abri or dug-out to which the entire population of the town 
repaired every night. Lieutenant Potter advised the Section to sleep 
there also. Several days later the division went back into line, and 503 
returned to Camp Berthelot. The Posts-de-Secours were taken over again 
with some changes in their locations. Those at Village Gascon and St. 
Hilaii-e were discontinued. Three new ones were established at Moscou, 
P. C. Viard, and Bois Carre. 

July Fourth was celebrated in the Section with the keenest enthusiasm 
and an abundance of champagne. In the morning the Section was reviewed 
and inspected by the commanding officer of the division, General Huguenot. 
In the early afternoon S. S. U. 633, then quartered in Mourmeleon-le- 
Grande, came over and had dinner with 503. A concert in the "Foyer-du- 
Soldat" followed the dinner, with a baseball game between the two Sec- 
tions later on in the afternoon. 

On the night of the fifth, the ambulance on duty at the two most 
advanced Posts (Ham and Bois Carre) were ordered back to the Post 
Centrale, M4. From then on four cars were stationed at M4; each night 
a car visiting the advanced Posts for wounded. Continuous rumors were 
being circulated of a grand enemy attack as pending. A few days later, 
Lieutenant Potter ordered extra cars stationed every night at three points 
as a reserve in the event of the expected attack materializing. Sergeant 
Martin took two cars to M4, nightly; Sergeant Mackey two to Sepiniere; 
and Corporal Allison, two to Camp Normandie. Before the attack did 
commence the extra cars at M4 were withdrawn. 

The commander of the 4th French Army, General Gouraud, issued a 
proclamation at this time, calling on the soldiers of his command to stand 
firm in the coming attack and not fail "La France." Bastile Day found 
affairs still in a quiet state though in a great condition of expectancy. 
This holiday was also celebrated by 503, the drivers out on Post enjoying 
an especially royal time with their French comrades. At 1.30 the Posts 
were relieved as usual. Pi-ecisely at midnight the enemy laid down their 
initial barrage. The attack was on at last! But the wily French, having 
full knowledge of the plans of the Germans, anticipated the latter's barrage 
with one of their own by half an hour. Indeed the French had spent several 
weeks in preparation for this event. Their artillery was massed solidly 
throughout the whole Champagne sector, and cavalry v^ere held in readiness 
several kilometers behind the lines. 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

The German barrage gradually extended till by morning the whole 
country for miles around was covered. At M4, one of the ambulances had 
made a trip to the hospital just before the commencement of the barrage 
and was unable to retui'n to the Post. The three other drivers there had 
abandoned their dug-out for a deeper one. A few hours later, a shell 
penetrated the roof of their former quarters, blowing everything to bits. 

The men at the cantonenient were awakened by Lieutenant Potter 
shortly after the commencement of affairs. He ordered them into the 
trench alongside the barracks, as the shells were falling around the camp. 
Around three o'clock a shell wrecked the former quarters of Sergeant 
Martin. Soon after that, Lieutenant Potter decided that the cantonement 
could be more comfortably located at a more distant spot and acting on 
that decision, he gave orders to speedily abandon Camp Berthelot, laying 
particular emphasis on the need of haste. Shortly before daybreak, the 
camion was loaded and the men departed. Cooks Hill and Smith, with 
several of their comrades, stayed behind to reload the truck when it 
returned. It happened that they had a narrow escape when a shell burst 
on the spot where they had just been standing. No one was hit, though 
Cook Hill fell on the bag of beans he had been carrying to the truck. 

A temporary cantonement was established several miles further back 
from the lines at Camp Farnum. Meanwhile, Privates James Brown, 
McHenry, and Sharman, had been slightly gassed at Post Normandie. At 
M4, the ambulances commenced evacuation soon after daybreak. Private 
Younger's ambulance was damaged by eclat at this Post, so two extra cars 
were sent forward to assist in the evacuation. Corporal Allison at Nor- 
mandie had started his evacuation by this time, and, as he had not enough 
drivers, three having been gassed, he took a car and drove the greater 
portion of the day. 

At Sepiniere, Sergeant Mackey was prevented from moving his 
wounded till after twelve o'clock on account of the terrific bombardment 
of the roads. By one o'clock it had abated somewhat, and his ambulances 
got away. The Posts of Moscou and Viard had not been heard from up 
to this time. Around two o'clock, Private Bates rode in from Viard on a 
bicycle. He reported his ambulance damaged by eclat. Shortly after his 
appearance, Private Boyle walked in, leading a group of "petite Blesses." 
Bates returned to Viard again through the barrage. At five o'clock, 
Privates Don and Flindt came on foot from Moscou, reporting the roads 
to that Post as impassable. They carried in despatches from the Medicin- 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

Chef who, expecting momentarily the capture of Moscou, had ordered 
them to attempt to get through with the papers. 

Bj' the middle of the afternoon, despite many difficulties, the Posts, 
with the exception of those isolated, were practically cleared of the 
wounded. The hospital at Mourmeleon was ovei'flowing with wounded 
within a short time after the attack started. This necessitated the ambu- 
lances travelling a much greater distance to the hospital at La Veuve. 
La Veuve vvas receiving wounded from all points of the Champagne, from 
Rheims to Verdun. This forced the drivers to wait hours in line at the 
hospital, thus considerably crippling the Section in its evacuation of the 
Posts. 

As the world knows, the Grand Offensive of the German Army, which 
began July loth, 1918, was a complete failure. The Champagne was one 
of the vital points in that attack, for the enemy sought to gain the 
important and strategic railroad center of Chalons-sur-Marne. By so doing 
they v/ould have cut in two the army of the French* along the southern 
portion of the Western Battle Front. 

The second day of the attack was much quieter and before the end 
of the week the sector had resumed its former tranquil state. The 132nd 
Division held the line, having been pushed back only a short distance of 
a mile. Later this loss was retrieved. But Section 503 moved back to 
Camp Berthelot. On July 21st the division was relieved and went back 
on reserve. The Section shifted its cantonement to Buoy and five days 
later, the division going back "en repos," the Section moved to the village 
of Dampierre. 

In the whole attack not a single casualty occurred in the Section. 
Three ambulances v/ere so badly wrecked as to necessitate them being 
replaced; one ambulance was temporarily rendered useless; and a number 
of machines had been pierced by eclat and machine gun bullets. Private 
Bates and James Brown salvaged the former's car at Post Viard early in 
the attack. Private Flindt's car was later recovered by Sergeant Mackey 
and James Brown, which was rather a risky pioposition as Moscou was at 
that time in full view of the enemy's front line trench. 

At Dampiei-rc, the first step was cleaning and repairing the ambu- 
lances. The only other duty, excepting the usual routine incidental to a 
cantonement, was for two cars to make a trip daily to the regiments of the 
division for sick soldiers. As these men were evacuated to the hospital at 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

Chalons-sur-Marne, some eighteen odd kilometers distant, several of the 
fellows went in with each car. There was always keen rivalry for this 
privilege as it was a delightful change to pass a few hours amidst the 
gayety of Chalons-sur-Marne, after the weeks out in the vast loneliness 
of the front. 

The amusements in Dampierre were not of a great variety. Several 
of the fellows were accustomed to walking to another village every evening. 
They invariably took a canteen bottle along, carefully stating before start- 
ing, that the pui-pose of the trip was to purchase milk. But these chaps 
generally managed to arrive at the farm early, which lent color to the 
report that they were more interested in watching a certain French maid 
as she milked the cows, than actually desiring the milk. 

Another nightly custom at Dampierre was singing. Collecting in a 
group the crowd would sing all the old familiar songs accompanied by 
Privates Fullwood Hayes, Hodges, and Luquet on their string instruments. 
This habit would please the French civilians in the village. One evening 
the three musicians were asked to play in a house, which they did, while 
several peasant couples danced in wooden shoes on the stone-flagged floor 
of their combination parlor, dining room and kitchen. 

After a week's rest at Dampierre, the Section broke camp and travelled 
northward. Making a detour after leaving Chalons-sur-Marne to avoid 
the dangerous vicinity of Chateau Thierry, the convoy reached Meaux at 
noon on the second day's journey. The Section halted at a cafe for dinner 
which, after an hour of waiting, materialized into a couple of eggs and a 
cup of coffee per man. Greatly refreshed by this bounteous repast, 503 
resumed its journey, reaching Senlis (which town contained the head- 
quarters of Marshal Foch) later in the afternoon and moving on to Ver- 
berie-sur-Oise. Two days later the Section moved to a farm outside of the 
village of Marieul-sur-Ourcq. 

On this farm there was a small French lad about thirteen years of 
age, whose name was Maurice a Merci. Maurice was in a rather forlorn 
condition, thin and ragged and appearing to be half starved. He had 
become separated from his relatives during the German occupation of that 
region in the vicinity of the Ourcq River. So 503 decided to adopt him as 
Section mascot. Mechanic McKenna oiled up the Section clippers and 
rendered to Maurice a first-aid, or rather emergency, tonsorial treatment. 
An army uniform was turned over to the division tailor to be made into a 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

suit for the lad. Shoes, shirts, and every other necessary article of cloth- 
ing, and equipment from tooth brush to mess kit, was supplied by various 
ones. The mascot of Section 503 soon presented an appearance truly con- 
sistent with his relationship to such an outfit as 503. 

The old farm was not of sufficient size to furnish all the room necessary 
so the Section tent was erected for a mess hall. It was nearly the middle of 
August at that time, and the days were hot and dry. A swarm of yellow 
jackets soon invaded the cantonement, becoming especially conspicuous at 
mess time. Jam and other sweet articles drew these insects, who as a rule 
drowned themselves in the coffee cups, or sought a suicide's grave in 
corned-beef hash. 503 at last gi-ew tired of constantly extracting these 
bright-striped bodies from the food and, calmly accepting the inevitable, 
soon formed the habit of eating a mess consisting of two parts regulation 
food and one part yellow jackets. 

A short distance from the cantonement was a canal where Private 
Alexander Martin was wont to go a-fishing day after day. There is, how- 
ever, no record of the mess as having, at any time, consisted of fresh fish. 
But an old, flat-bottom, canal boat was discovered on the canal and another 
pastime was pursued. Many an evening was spent in poling the scow up 
and down. Corporal Allison generally emulated Captain Kidd on these 
exploring expeditions, while "General" Treanor, and Privates Clark and 
McHenry served as the faithful henchmen. 

One night, several drivers went out with their ambulances. The 
Germans had bombed the town of La Ferte Milon, causing great havoc 
and killing or wounding a number of French soldiers. Private Flindt was 
among these drivers. In a few hours all of them had returned but Flindt. 
The next day a car was sent out to find him but failed to do so. Finally 
he was found at the evacuation hospital at Villers Cotteret. Having reached 
the hospital with his wounded during the night, Flindt could not recall 
the name of, or the route to, the village of Marieul-sur-Ourcq, near which 
the cantonement was located, consequently he had been lost and strayed 
around the country, in his travels visiting Soissons and Chateau Thierry, 
before he was found. 

August 14th found the Section estalilished in the heart of the forests 
of Compiegne, in the village of St. Jean-au-Bois. Sergeant Scalley had 
rejoined the Section by this time. Corporal Allison was despatched to 
Verberie-sur-Oise with ten ambulances to carry on the evacuation work 
at the hospital there. Verberie-sur-Oise lay too far behind the lines to 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

be shelled, but on many a bright, starlight night, the drivers listened to 
the hum of Boche motors in the heavens, and the sharp crack of shells 
hurled in the air at them. On the 19th, Corporal Allison reported back 
to the Section with his ambulances and the cantonement was moved to 
Francport, across from the Chateau of the Marquis de I'Aigle (where some 
months later the German envoys rested over night before signing the 
Armistice which ended the war). 

Francport lay on the Aisne river about six kilometers from Compiegne. 
Below it lies the city of Soissons which the Americans had lately taken 
from the enemy. To the left of Francport is Noyon, a city noted principally 
as the birthplace of Calvin, that great religious leader. Noyon was held 
by the Germans. As the military situation was at this time, the 132nd 
Division, under the army commanded by General Man gin, was in line just 
ahead of, and to the right of, Carlepont, and in the center of that plateau 
which stretches forward from the farm Le Cense. To the right of the 
132nd Division was the 32nd American Division ; to the left, the army of 
General Humbert, who was waiting to attack Noyon. Before he could 
do this, however, it was necessary that the 132nd Division move forward 
in conjunction with his divisions, driving back the foe immediately ahead. 

The cantonement of the Section was in a partly demolished house in 
Francport which had a wine cellar beneath it, and a large cave nearby 
which assured security in case of an air attack. Across the river, a short 
distance, was a large American Naval gun. This gun drew the fire and 
planes of the enemy, and the first night in Francport was maiked by an 
artillery bombardment of the village. In spite of this, the drivers weie on 
the road the next morning (August 20th) with ten ambulances, moving 
forward to a position behind the lines. Fifteen minutes after reaching this 
spot, the group of drivers with the sergeants and officers, stood under the 
roof of an old shed and witnessed the opening artille}'y barrage of the Oise- 
Aisne attack, the second attack and first offensive participated in by 
Section 503. 

It was late in the morning before the Posts were established. In 
reality, only one Post was located, that being in a large cave which had been 
the headquarters of a German general. This Post served as a depot for 
the wounded of three divisions. When the abmbulances reached there, 
the conditions were appalling. Strewn over the ground were Moroccans, 
Colonials, Senegalese, and native French. The condition of these wounded 
was rendered more aggravating by tlie scarcity of water. Private BaiTon, 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

who with gi'eat foresight had once invested in a large milk can which he 
always kept full of water and carried strapped to the side of his ambu- 
lance, was able to help these unfortunate soldiers somewhat. The day 
was hot and the roads dusty. Soon the drivers were covered with a fine 
layer of white dust. Steadily all day long, and far into the night, the am- 
bulances traveled back and forth to the hospitals which were located at 
Compiene, Royalieu, and Verberie-sur-Oise. The last named town was 
nearly fifty kilometers distant from the Posts-de-Secour. All twenty am- 
bulances weie in action before the day was over. 

The second day found the division slowly moving forward. It had 
gained its first objective, the village of Cuts, with ease on the first day. A 
Post was established at a spot known as Bellfontaine which was off the main 
road. It was reached by a road, the surface of which could be likened to a 
vast sheet of corrugation. The third day found the field hospital situated in 
an old quarry in the "Bois de Cuckoo." This quarry lay only a short dis- 
tance from Cuts, but a large hill separated the two places. The road to the 
front turned a sharp angle at the quarry, winding up over the hill and on 
through Cuts. The Germans shelled this spot constantly and with great 
severity. Quite frequently Austrian "whiz-bangs" were mingled with the 
German 77's, which fact rendered discretion extremely advisable. 

At Francport, Sergeant Scalley was placed in charge of the mess and 
Sergeant Mackey in charge of transportation. The latter was unceasingly 
busy, for the roads were in a terrible condition and the cars were coming in 
to the cantonement at all hours of the day and night for repairs. Front 
springs seemed to be the main feature of repairs. Mechanics Marshall and 
McKenna were forever on their backs under machines and Private Hess 
was finally detailed as their assistant. 

The stone quarry at Cuckoo was a safe shelter. Long tunnels extended 
in various directions under the Cuts hill, and, though damp and clammy, 
v/ith a rough, uneven flooring, made a fairly comfortable abri. The French 
medical oflicers used a part of it as a dressing station and operating room 
for the wounded. The stretcher-bearers and ambulance drivers slept in 
other parts. The division barber conducted his business whenever a cus- 
tomer appeared. The tonsorial parlor was generally located in an open 
space of the quarry. Very frequently the operations would be interrupted 
by the hum of an approaching shell with its old familiar song of "I'll get 
YOU this time" ; barber and customer would abruptly terminate the sitting 
and duck for shelter, to resume operations again till the next shell was 
heard. 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

Lieutenant Potter discovered a Gennan sign up over the hill, which 
bore the lettering of "Section 503" ; evidently there had been a German 
ambulance section of the same number as this Section. The Lieutenant 
suggested to Sergeant Scalley, who had come up from Francport, that he 
secure the sign. The Sergeant selected that gay and irrepressible youth, 
Private James Brown, to assist him. But, on approaching the coveted 
trophy, they found that a "potato masher" grenade hung suspended from 
the board. As Sergeant Scalley later remarked, discretion became the 
better part of valor, and the sign remained in its original position. The 
enemy was reluctant to allow the two men to escape for on their journey 
back to the quarry, "whiz-bangs" continually landed in an adjacent field, 
advancing across the field in accord with their progress along the road. 

The division continued to advance on the 21st, but more Posts were 
established in and beyond Cuts. Cuts was shelled and bombed consistently, 
rendering it a precarious place to pass through. Reserve ambulances were 
stationed at the quarry. Sergeants Scalley and Mackey having charge of 
the depot for a time ; to be relieved later by Sergeant Martin and Corporal 
Allison. 

The Section cantonement, in the meanwhile, had been moved from 
Francport to the farm, Le Cesne. Private Don, who was the official dis- 
penser of gasoline in the Section, had gone to the hospital on the day of 
moving, having been vanquished in a battle with the Section's cook-stove, 
with two smashed fingers as a result. At Le Cesne, the mechanics were 
handling an increased amount of repair work, and Private Hess was given 
the rating of mechanic, as he had proven exceptionally fine ability since 
assisting in that line of work. 

After a lapse of some days, the field hospital, or G. B. D. moved to the 
village of Besme and the division re-attacked, this time along the canal and 
Ailette River. Stubborn fighting ensued, in which great casualties oc- 
curred. It was only after repeated attacks that the infantry succeeded in 
crossing the river. Six ambulances of S. S. U. 535 came out to assist 503. 
The situation, from the medical standpoint, had become acute, and the driv- 
ers were in action night and day. 

The field hospital at Besme was, as had been when located in the quarry 
at Bois de Cuckoo, the central reserve for the ambulances. Besme was 
several kilometers beyond Cuts in the opposite direction from Noyon. 
Forward to the right lay the forest of St. Gobain, in which was located the 
German gun which had shelled Paris. The Posts were not a great distance 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

from Besme and ambulances from them always were replaced immediately 
by a car from the reserve force. 

The route from Besme to the hospitals lay from that village to Bleran- 
court ; straight on through Cameleon to Cuts ; turning off at right angles 
eight kilometers from Noyon, and up over a hill to Carlepont and Tracy-le- 
Val; on through the forest of Compiegne to Choissy-au-Bac; and over the 
river to Compiegne. The route from Cuts formerly had been the road up 
over the Cuts hill, past the quarry, Le Cesne, through Retondes, and up 
the bank of the Aisne River to Francport, and on to Choissy-au-Bac. The 
advantage of the last named route lay in the fact that the drive through 
the forest of Compiegne was eliminated, for at night time, and especially 
after a rain, the course through the woods was difficult and collisions were 
more likely to occui". 

The roads from Besme were often haunted by German planes. Beyond 
Cuts, the German avions both bombed and used their machine guns on the 
road traffic. While the route through Francport was being used, two driv- 
ers had just crossed the bridge over the Aisne River at Choissy-au-Bac one 
clear moonlight night when a bomb shattered another bridge a short dis- 
tance away. Reaching Francport, the drivers of the two ambulances were 
forced to wait in the cantonement an hour while the "night-hawks" bombed 
the entire district between the villages of Retondes and Choissy-au-Bac. 

The villages and towns were the most dangerous spots for the ambu- 
lance drivers on their trips to the hospitals. At Blerancourt, Private Hause- 
man, of S. S. U. 535, suddenly found himself shy the rear of his ambulance ; 
a shell had hit behind his car and wrecked it, but he escaped without injury. 
Compeigne, that city which once beheld the glories of France from Joan of 
Arc, to Napoleon III, but now deserted and desolate, was an especially 
dangerous spot. This city seemed to be the object of the keen wrath and 
hatred of the Huns, and, bombed and shelled constantly, it was ever fraught 
with thrilling excitement for the drivers passing through. One night, Pri- 
vate Cook was knocked from his car by the concussion of a bomb which had 
dropped nearby, blocking his path with the debris of a house it had struck. 

Private Younger's ambulance one day came into Besme under unusual 
circumstances. With three stretcher cases inside the machine and some 
wounded on the front with the driver, Younger had received a shower of 
eclat from a bursting shell which killed one of his stretcher patients and 
wounded all the others but Younger, who escaped without a scratch. 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

A volume could not contain the accounts of all the individual adventures 
and experiences of the men of 503. Privates Myatt and Bodine once picked 
up four stranded American second lieutenants of the 32nd Division and car- 
ried them and their baggage to Vic-sur-Aisne which was some distance out 
of the usual route. From Vic-sur-Aisne they started on a straight line 
across country for Cuts. Private Bodine, believing his wanderings through 
Jersey swamps had given him the sagacity of a crow, led the way with the 
result that the two men ended up on the front of the 32nd Division, and 
became entangled in an American artillery column, while the Germans 
banged away with their 77's. 

Private Fullwood Hayes managed to run down a French civilian one 
night. Private Boyle massaged the back of a French soldier with the 
front wheel of his Ford. Private William Brown turned up at Besme one 
day minus a tire. The Germans started a bombardment about the time 
Brown experienced a blow-out, and the latter never waited to complete 
repairs, preferring, doubtless, the loss of a tire to the possibility of a trans- 
fer from the material to the abstract. Private Gorham had earned the title 
of "Section Ace," having smashed the necessary quota of tailgates and 
radiators. Private Charley Winkler's exploits with the staff car won 
him undying fame. Also during this attack, Privates Joachim and Egner, 
with several of the other drivers, had a close call in Cuts, when an enemy 
plane dropped some bombs. 

503 was handicapped by a prevalence of dysentery. Several of the 
drivers were laid up with it. Private Joachim being the worst case. Private 
Treanor became ill and went to Base Camp. Private Flindt was accidentally 
.shot in the leg, being evacuated to a hospital. They, with Private Don, 
rejoined the Section later. Corporal Allison drove Private Trainor's car for 
a time but was forced to forego duty finally, he too, becoming ill. Private 
Clark, who remained hale and hearty throughout the period of illnesses, 
carried on the duties of Private Don of distributing gasoline. 

In the meanwhile, the enemy's resistance became greater, General 
Huguenot being wounded, and the entire 330th Regiment being almost 
completely annihilated. Twelve hundred men of the 166th Regiment were 
gassed. It was a pitiful sight at the Posts where these men were, to see 
strong, able-bodied men suddenly rendered blind, grouped together and led 
by stretcher-bearers, crying like babies, and piteously begging "le conduc- 
teur Americaine" to take them away. The ambulances were overloaded. 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

and the French pressed into service several large auto trucks, Sergeant 
Mackey also assisting with the Section's Garford truck. 

An amusing incident occurred during the early evening of that day. 
A threatening storm had caused the night to set in early; the darkness 
prevented even the nearest objects along the road being discerned. Private 
Dougherty's ambulance slid into a vast bomb hole, turning upside down. 
Over half of the drivers were unfamiliar with the route to the Post so 
Private Younger headed a convoy of about ten cars. Younger stopped 
suddenly, with the result that a succession of quick, sharp reports were 
heard as the machines following him crashed into each other. At that 
moment, as if Mother Nature was in an ironical mood, the darkness faded 
away and the moon came forth, its light revealing the demoralized con- 
voy, with Private Dougherty's ambulance lying in the hole nearby. 

On September 16th, the division was relieved and went "en repos" at 
Ivors. Shortly after the arrival there, a difference of opinion arose between 
Sergeant Martin on the one part, and the personnel of 503, on the othei*. 
As the issue developed into a stubborn disagreement which would have 
proved detrimental to the ultimate success of the Section's military career, 
Sergeant Martin requested to be relieved of his duties. Upon approval 
from headquarters. Lieutenant Potter complied with his wishes and Ser- 
geant Scalley became top-sergeant of Section 503. 

A grand review of the 132nd Division, or what was left of it, was held 
on the 25th of September by General Sicre, who had replaced General 
Huguenot. Section 503 was given the place of honor on the field. General 
Sicre addressed the division, in his address paying tribute to the work done 
by "our gallant comrades, the American Army." On the completion of his 
address he dismounted from his horse, and the vai'ious decorations were 
awarded. Now, the French invariably wore overcoats at all military for- 
mations without regards to whether the day was hot or cold, the season, 
summer or winter. For some inexplicable reason the overcoats were dis- 
carded for this ceremony, and during the morning a cold, drizzling rain set 
in. 503 had followed the French in the matter of overcoats. So, when thir- 
teen members of 503 were decorated with the Croix de Gueri'e v^^ith Divis- 
ional Citation, they thrilled with emotion and honor, but shivered more 
with the chill of the penetrating dampness. The Section, too, was awarded 
a citation, as was Private Hauseman, of S. S. U. 535, one of the six drivers 
of that Section, who had worked with 503 in the recent attack. 

The leisure hours at Ivors were spent in divers fashion. Every day an 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

ambulance visited the regiments, taking the sick to the hospital at Villers 
Cotteret. These trips to the liospital gave the newly decorated drivers an 
opportunity to purchase Croix de Guerre bars to wear on their noble breasts. 
A few trips to the city of Meaux were made at various times, by various 
men, for various motives, this latter according to the finances, needs and 
disposition of those making the trip. Several tournaments of African golf 
were held and in the evenings "Black Jack" and chess formed the recreation. 
One afternoon, a heavy game of "golf" netted one enterprising young gen- 
tleman several hundred francs. He promptly invested a portion of his 
wealth in "beaucoup de champagne." The latter portion of the afternoon 
was marked for its hilarity. Over by the gate, two individuals, inspired by 
the champagne, were performing a heartrending and an entirely novel 
version of "The Love Scene from Faust," bringing out vividly the more 
touching parts by rubbing noses together. 

It was during the period at Ivors that Section 503 first became ac- 
quainted with the fine work of the "Greatest Mother in the World," the 
Ked Cross. Sergeant Scalley made several trips to Beauvais, where a Red 
Cross depot was situated, to bring back chocolate, candy and cigarettes, 
besides articles for the kitchen, along the line of provisions. 

On September 30th, the cantonement of 503 was changed from Ivors to 
the village of Acy. Acy lies in the Aisne sector near Soissons, and is en- 
tirely in ruins. The once humble homes of simple French peasants, and the 
venerable church in which they worshipped, were nothing but masses of 
crumbling stone and broken timber wrought by that fiend who sought to 
emulate the Almighty among his fellow men. Section 503 was given as a 
cantonement a partly demolished school house which was perched on tlie 
point of a hill overlooking one of the valleys where the American Divisions 
had fought back the foe so valiantly a few months previous. Some of the 
fellows found undamaged rooms in some of the battered houses and gath- 
ered articles of furniture from around the village, establishing, practically, 
palatial residences. Clerk Weidler and Private Boyle, inseparable partners 
in many an escapade, lived in an especially luxurious apartment, with a 
large fire place and upholstered armchairs. 

The 132nd Division did not, as was expected, go into action on the 
Aisne Front, but, on October 5th, entrained for a point in the north. Sec- 
tion 503 left Acy the following day, driving en convoy. It halted in Com- 
piegne for an hour, and while there received news of the enemy's request 
for a cessation of hostilities. Lieutenant Potter remarked on the news but 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

cautioned the men against entertaining false hopes, predicting, as was later 
borne out by events, that the Allies had yet to place the foe in a position 
where he could be most effectually dealt with. 

On the 8th of October the Section arrived at the village of St. Sylvestre 
(near Cassel). There the division awaited 503. The Section parked their 
machines in a field. Tents were secured from the British, but the majority 
of the men prefei-red to sleep in their ambulances. Rainy weather ren- 
dered existence dreary, and the only amusement was in the evenings when 
the fellows gathered in a cafe and sang while Sergeant Mackey accom- 
panied on the piano. Private Weaver one afternoon shot off a star shell 
which described a beautiful arc and landed in the straw-thatched roof of a 
farmhouse. The straw commenced to burn and a hole of a fairly good size 
was made in the roof before the fire was extinguished. The old farmer 
manifested some evidence of annoyance over the incident, but 503 never 
heard more of it. 

On the 13th of the month, 503 crossed over into Belgium, establishing 
the cantonement in the town of Poperinghe. This region was the sector of 
the British and famous for the valor of their amiies during the early part 
of the war. Poperinghe, which lies about fifteen kilometers from Ypres, 
was a British military center of recreation and contained a Y. M. C. A., 
rest rooms, and a theatre where English troops gave shows. 

Several ambulances were sent out on duty at Posts up near the lines. 
An attack was on, but the 132nd Division followed in its wake, and did not 
go into action for a time. The ambulance drivers who were on duty, wal- 
lowed in and cursed the famous mud of Flanders. They were stationed in 
spots which bore titles, such as "Hell's Corner," "Dead Man's Row," "Sui- 
cide Corner," and "Hindenburg's Hill." 

When the tide of battle had swept beyond the city of Roulers, the 132nd 
division went into action in the front line. Section 503 broke camp at 
Poperinghe and moved foi-ward to the city of Roulers, entering upon their 
second offensive and third attack, the Ypres-Lys Offensive. At Ypres the 
convoy was held up for a few minutes, and while there viewed the desolate 
ruins of that tragic spot. Towering above the jagged outline of broken 
buildings was the gaunt skeleton of the tower of the city hall, with the ruins 
of the Cloth Hall to one side of it. In fact, the vast expanse of destruction, 
and the many spectacles of whole towns in ruins, in this country of Fland- 
ers, impressed the Section with the fact that the stories of German atroci- 
ties and barbarity wei-e unquestionably authentic. 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

The 132nd Division swept forward swiftly, so swiftly that at times 
the artillery would no sooner be placed than it would be forced to change 
its position as the Germans had retreated beyond range. From Roulers, 
ambulances were sent out, Private McHenry encountering a number of 
harrowing experiences at night time. Private George Martin was at a 
Post on one occasion, and strolling around, happened to notice that a line 
of infantrymen were only a few hundred yards from him. They were 
fixing bayonets, preparing to charge. Martin, who was not aware of his 
proximity to the line, prudently sought a less exposed spot. 

The Posts-de-Sours, in this attack, were at first but temporary, for 
the division moved too rapidly to establish permanent ones. The field 
hospital was situated in Roulers adjacent the Section's cantonement. 
Evacuations were made over the waste lands of the district around Ypres, 
to a hospital near the frontier. Later a hospital was established in Roulers 
which greatly shortened the distance of these evacuations, and eliminated 
the bad stretches that skirted the eastern edge of the city. 

The Post at Meulebeke was a dangerous one in the early days of the 
attack. Several of the drivers, including Private Herbert Hayes especially, 
had some thrilling experiences there. The Post also received a great 
number of wounded which one night kept Privates Fullwood Hayes and 
Bodine and Sergeant Mackey constantly on the road. On starting from 
Roulers on one trip, Bodine burnt out a bearing of his motor. Being some 
distance from the cantonement, he decided to go on to Muelebeke after 
another load of wounded. By the time he reached there his machine 
rattled like a thrashing machine. Bodine returned to Roulers with some 
wounded and exchanged his ambulance for another, and continued driving 
till the Post was cleared. The next day the mechanics examined the motor 
and found its interior to be in an appalling condition, which aroused the 
ire of Lieutenant Potter, and the muttered curses of the two Mechanics, 
Marshall and McKenna. 

From Roulers the cantonement was shifted to Meulebeke. The drivers 
who had previously been on duty in that village, were the first Americans 
the villagers had seen. Lieutenant Potter and Sergeant Mackey drove 
into the town and parked their machine in the square. As they stepped 
out of the car, the burgomaster walked over to them and asked if they 
were English. Lieutenant Potter informed him they were Americans. 
Upon hearing this, the burgomaster took off his hat, shook hands heaiiily, 
and cried, "The Americans are our liberators." All the civilians greeted 
the men, the male civilians tipping their hats, the women bov/ing. 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

A large brick building was assigned to 503 as a cantonement. The 
sleeping quarters were established in the basement, safe from the shell 
and shrapnel of the enemy's guns. The gentlemen of the village formed 
a habit of coming into this cellar every night with their wives and chil- 
dren on account of the nightly bombardment. Naturally, this procedure 
greatly embaiTased 503. 

October 25th, found the cantonement in the village of Denterghem. 
The Section was under circumstances heretofore not experienced; i. e., its 
cantonement being situated between its division's artillery and front lines. 
The hum of their own shells mingled overhead with those of the enemy. 
503 was quartered in a two-story house behind which was the field hospital. 
The lines were then along the banks of the Lys River. In the vicinity of 
the village of Olsene, the French encountered a fierce resistance and 
repeated efforts failed to dislodge the foe. 

The casualties of the 132nd Division by this time had reached such 
proportions as to keep the ambulances active continually. Private Younger 
had been evacuated to an American hospital with a serious illness. The 
remainder of the drivers were kept very busy, and the extra men on occa- 
sions assisted in the evacuations. The Posts were situated an extra- 
ordinarily short distance from the field hospital, in comparison with the 
locations of them in preceding attacks. But this was due principally to 
the policy of the medical staff of the unit, in having the medical unit follow 
closely the movements of the infantiy. 

During the last week of October, the 132nd Division was relieved by 
the 37th American Division. The 132nd retired to a resei-ve position. 
The Americans took over the field hospital of the French. When the 37th 
attacked. Lieutenant Potter offered the services of 503's train of ambu- 
lances to the commanding officer of the field hospital. The officer asked 
for six cars, after the attack commenced. These ambulances worked with 
the Americans for two days, and astonished the American Major by the 
rapidity and efficiency of their evacuations. 

While the 132nd Division was in reserve, 503 moved back to Muelebeke. 
That village was occupied by Americans and the Section was bothered 
extensively by the rules and regulations issued by the headquarters of the 
37th Division. For the Section had always led a life entirely free from 
the restraint and exactions which characterized the American military 
units. To be subject once more to the rigid rules was a hardship which 
recalled the days of St. Nazaire and Major Metcalfe. 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

From Muelebeke, 503 moved forward to the village of Lede on Novem- 
ber 10th. The 132nd Division was moving up to attack again. But that 
night a Belgian, who spoke English, poked his head in the window of the 
cantonement and imparted information that the war would probably cease 
in a few hours. While rumors to that effect had been heard before,^ the 
Belgian's news was the first that could be called unquestionable. Sleep 
was out of the question. No more would there be the long, harrowing 
night-driving without lights ; no more to listen to the hum of hostile motors 
in the heavens ; no more to hear the agonized cries of suffering men being 
borne over rough roads; no more of blood and frightful wounds; that is 
the sum and substance of the thoughts, created by the news of that 
Belgian, in the minds of the lads of 503. 

In the morning. Sergeant Singer informed the Section of the of!icial 
announcement of the signing of the terms for an armistice, by the envoys 
of the Germans. This ceremony took place on the train of Marshal Foch 
near the village of Retondes in the territory of the second attack of 
Section 503. 

On the 12th of November, 503 returned to Muelebeke. The 37th Divi- 
sion had nearly all left the village. On the 15th, the villagers held a 
celebration of some national holiday. A band concert was given in the 
afternoon. In the evening, which was a clear moonlight, the fellows of 
the Section started a snake dance in the town square. French soldiers 
and Belgian civilians joined in till a great line twisted in and out of the 
throng of people. But the celebration was abruptly halted by an attack 
of the civilians on the home of the burgomaster, and 503 quickly withdrew 
to the cantonement, following out the American policy of not mixing in 
European political scraps. 

The 132nd Division was in a position of uncertainty. "Old Genera 
Rumor" had it that the division was bound for Germany by way of 
Brussels. Another day would bring news that the division would move in 
the opposite direction, for Dunkirk, France. Thanksgiving Day was cele- 
brated in the village of Cruyshautem. Cooks Hill and Smith, with the 
assistance of Privates Barron and Dougherty, prepared a truly royal 
dinner of rabbit, mashed potatoes, turnips, celery, corn, hot chocolate, and, 
for dessert, cake with a chocolate covering. Many of the fellows had ob- 
served the day by going to the city of Ghent for a real old-fashioned 
American style bath in a regular bath tub. 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

On the 29th of November, the division started on a journey for Dun- 
kirk, covered one day's journey, and halted. The march was never resumed. 
In December, Marshal Petain visited the division at Aerseele and decorated 
two regiments. In contrast to the last ceremony of awarding decoration in 
the previous September, Section 503 occupied the informal, and even less 
conspicuous, position of mere witnesses at the occasion. 

The General's headquarters of the division was located in Aerseele. 
So was the Section's; and while the General occupied the largest house in 
the village, the Section had naught but an old brewery utterly devoid of 
everything, even the "brew," which otherwise might have given the Section 
an advantage over the General. The brewery was soon rendered comfort- 
able, and what had formerly been store rooms for grain, were transformed 
into attractive apartments. There were "The Room of the Blasted Hopes," 
maintained by Bates; the "Nursery," superintended by Bodine; and the 
"Den," run by McHenry, where the intellectuals and the elite were wont 
to gather on an evening when not on a pilgrimage to "The Mad House." 

A strictly military parade of the division was held on Christmas Day 
in Ghent. Section 503 was one of the attractions. Marching eight abreast, 
preceded by acting Color Sergeants Mackey and James Brown, bearing the 
Section and American emblems, and carefully guarded by Corporal Allison, 
with Lieutenant Potter and the French Lieutenant leading, the Section 
swept the good townspeople olf their feet, figuratively speaking. "Les 
Americaines" was the ciy that filled the air, frequently intermingled at 
times with "Vive les Senegalese," as the Section was mistaken for the bar- 
barian troops from that French colony. The cheering and enthusiasm 
became so unrestrained, at one time, that Private Gorham was forced to re- 
ceive on Ijehalf of the Section, the full burden of an especial demonstration 
of patriotic fevor, when one frantic young feminine Belgian flung herself on 
his neck. Private Gorham shouldered his burden without a murmur, and 
as he dealt with an unforeseen situation according to the instincts and tradi- 
tions of 503, the parade moved on uninterrupted. The Section remained in 
Ghent over night, and the next morning Private Jones' ambulance tried to 
enter a cafe, doubtless influenced in its action by having once seen its driver 
do the same. 

After Christmas and the New Year, the life in Aerseele became thor- 
oughly monotonous. During December it was the custom to send drivers out 
to the regiments for a week's duty but this had been supplanted by the old 
method of a car making the rounds daily. Every week, the fellows made 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

trips to Ghent for baths. There were some trips to Tirlemont, via Brussels 
and Louvain, where the repair pare was located. Private Hodges, though, 
was the only member of 503 to visit Antwerp. It was at this time that 
Cooks Hill and Smith asked to be relieved of kitchen duties, Private Hayes 
and Sharman replaced them. 

The men of 503 often held conspicuous and undesired positions in 
Belgium. Americans were unknown in certain portions of the country. In 
one village where a Post was situated, the driver on duty there could never 
stroll up the street without a band of curious youngsters trailing after him, 
the clickety-clack of their wooden shoes heralding his appearance to the 
goodly housewives who would flock to the doors and windows to see him 
pass by. Even in Ghent the curious, though friendly, stares of the people 
were encountered. Some of the fellows made friends among the better class 
of the population. 

Aerseele remained the home of 503 until the last of February, when, 
the 132nd Division having dissolved, the Section returned to France, estab- 
lishing its cantonement in the village of Madeleine, on the outskirts of Lille. 
There the train of ambulances were overhauled and painted. Between the 
"Rue A. B. C.," and the "Cinema," Lille furnished the Section with suffi- 
cient amusement, and the time passed quickly. On March 18th, 503 relieved 
S. S. U. 533 with the 31st French Division at Maubeuge. 

503 took over the duties with that division on the 19th. Seven cars 
were immediately sent out on duty. Then the French continually called for 
more cars till, if Sergeant Scalley had not intervened, the staff car and Clerk 
VVeidler's pet camionette would have gone out, like the ambulances, to do 
pleasure trips for the French officers. Lieutenant Potter had left the Sec- 
tion some little time previous and was replaced by Lieutenant Swann. 
Lieutenant Swann, immediately on his assumption of command, withdrew 
the aml)u!ances from their duties "d'amour." The French were limited to 
less than half the number of cars they had originally requested. 

Section 503 was longing to return to America. From time to time the 
fellows had read in the Ambulance Service newspaper, "The Radiator" the 
list of the Sections that had sailed for home, and those at Base Camp ready 
to depart. The days passed slowly in Maubeuge, with some baseball games 
and roller-skating as pastime. Finally S. S. U. 528 relieved 503 on the 8th 
of April and two days later the return to Base Camp commenced. A route 
was taken by Lieutenant Swann which took the convoy through the old 
battle grounds of the Somme, through the towns of St. Quentin, Ham, and 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

Noyon, to familiar scenes of former experiences, Compiegne and its vicinity. 
The Section halted overnight in Compiegne, reaching the Ambulance Garage 
in Paris the next afternoon. The Base Camp at Ferriers-en-Gatinais was 
reached on the 12th of April. 

Base Camp had been considered the termination of the trip with the 
ambulance train. But Section 503 halted at the Camp for a day; the am- 
bulances were then taken to an American M. T. C. pare at Romarantin, a 
long journey from Ferriers-en-Gatinais. Returning to the Base Camp, 503 
learned it had to take another train of ambulances to the pai"C. A third trip 
followed before the Section commenced the preparations for the final 
journey. 

Lieutenant Swann was replaced in command of 503 by Lieutenant 
Hugh J. Bubb. Then the Section was deloused and treated to a rigid medi- 
cal examination. These steps accomplished, 503 along with other Sections, 
was placed in quarantine, in a segregated portion of the Camp. Packs were 
issued, and as the contingent was formed, the old routine of the American 
Army slowly superseded the carefree independence which had been the lot 
of 503 during the days under the French. The personnel of the Section was 
increased to forty-five men. Captain Greenwood commanded the contingent 
which left Base Camp on April 25th, and reached Brest after a slow and 
painful journey in freight cars. Stopping in Brest long enough to repair 
all the beds of the negro units there, the contingent went aboard the U. S. S. 
Rhode Island, on May 7th. 

Slowly, on the afternoon of May 8th, the shores of France faded away 
before the thoughtful faces of the soldiers packed on the deck of the 
battleship. France had been a gay old place; the wine flowed like water, 
and the smiles of a pretty lass was ever for Americans; yet the thought 
of home brought a sudden dimming to the eyes of many. Silently bidding 
farewell to France, they turned their thought to more immediate prob- 
lems, such as "when do we eat?" and the probability of seasickness. 

Life on the Rhode Island was a complex, many-sided problem. In the 
morning all soldiers were ordered on deck immediately after breakfast, 
so the details could clean quarters. At ten-thirty they were routed from 
the upper decks till afternoon mess, while the sailors held drill and inspec- 
tion. After dinner, back on deck again till a chap was fairly bewildered 
and hardly knew whether he should be on the upper deck or down on the 
under deck ; whether he should be in the fore of the upper deck or the aft ; 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

on the port side or the starboard. No chairs were on either decks, the bare, 
hard floors providing ample room for those desiring to rest their weary 
bones. A place at the railing was always kept clear for those who suddenly 
desired to gaze lingeringly into the green depths of the ocean. All during 
the trip, many a lad could be seen bent over the rail, longing for the bliss 
of utter oblivion. 

Twelve hundred soldiers were on the Rhode Island; twelve hundred 
hammocks were slung on the under deck of the ship, in two layers. The 
bottom layer of hammocks was strung from the side of the ship to an iron 
rail in the center. The top layer was strung lengthwise. The hammocks 
were so close to each other as to necessitate the men sleeping in opposite 
direction; that is, the heads and feet alternating. This arrangement had 
its drawbacks ; a chap, perhaps a farmer's lad, would be dreaming of eating 
a fine meal of pigs feet at home, only to suddenly awaken and find that 
those "delicious pigs feet" were really only the foot of his neighbor, which 
had somehow strayed over into the adjacent hammock, and eventually 
found its way into the unsuspecting mouth. Or, what would happen should 
a man in an upper hammock suddenly become seasick? 

After a few days out the weather became nasty and the sea rough. 
The Rhode Island pitched and rolled, conducting herself somewhat after the 
fashion of a flivver. The foreward part of the ship was constantly covered 
by the waves which at times broke as high as the bridge. A library 
rendered some diversion, and every afternoon a chart was hung on the 
wall, revealing the distance traveled in twenty-four hours. Sometimes, 
judging by the chart, the ship had gone backward during the night, which 
was discouraging to a bunch of homesick lads, and excited not a few 
unholy remarks. 

Early in the morning of May 19th, the soldiers were routed out on 
deck with packs and rolls made up. As the gray dawn became radiant 
with the first rays of the sun, tinting the smooth sea with a deep blood red, 
the mists began to rise. It was a little after eight o'clock when a tall 
white object was indistinctly perceived. Gradually it took form and a 
faint outline of hills appeared in the liackground. Swiftly now, the tall 
object stood out distinct, a light house, and behind it the shores of Massa- 
chusetts appeared. Then the city of Boston came into view. Home at last! 

As the Rhode Island neared the harbor, small boats and tugs came 
out to greet the returning soldiers. Various welfare organizations met the 
soldiers on the pier with hot coffee and sandwiches. The contingent waited 



"LEST WE FORGET" 

on the pier for a time and then boarded a train, bound for Camp Devens. 
As the train sped through Boston and on through the suburbs, shrill blasts 
of factory and locomotive whistles cordially cheered the veterans, a sincere 
manifestation of the kind spirit of the people of Massachusetts. 

Section 503 was officially disbanded at Camp Devens, Massachusetts. 
Clerk Weidler was the only hard-working member of 503 at that camp. 
Lieutenant Bubb had bidden farewell to the Section just before it left, as 
casuals, for Camp Dix, New Jersey. The fellows arrived in Camp Dix 
expecting to be immediately demobilized. Seven days passed before they 
were mustered out of the Sei"vice, to take up once more the life which they 
had left two years before. 

Thusly dissolved a unit of the U. S. Army Ambulance Service, one of 
the earliest Sections to go into training at Allentown; a unit demobilized 
at Camp Dix with the record of having served on three of the famous fronts 
of the World War, and in as many battles, without a single casualty. 
Section 503 bid farewell to its military career; bid farewell silently and, 
though not exactly with regret, yet with a consciousness of wistfulness. 
"La Guerre ces't finis," truly; those glorious times, herein recoi'ded, had 
come to a close; but may sacred memory of them never fade. As says 
Kipling : 

"The tumult and the shouting dies; 
The captains and the kings depart: 

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet; 
Lest we forget. Lest we forget." 



TO MY FLIVVER. 

Here's to my pile o' tin, 
Who pulled me around thru thick and thin, 
When the obus were breaking on the road, 
You tout jour got thru with your precious load. 
D'l'eau, essence and a bit of oil, 
A little grease and damn little toil, 
In skidding and sliding you had no beat. 
And bringing down camions was your meat. 
Shell holes were a minor matter 
When you partir with your noisy clatter. 
You were a source of amusement to the "Frogs," 
But Alors: — you got through Flanders' bogs, 
All thru the night without a light, 
In and out places mighty tight. 
The fighting's o'er and peace in sight, 
Tho my pile of tin you are a sorry plight, 
After beaucoup radiators and wear and tear. 
Ce' ne fait rien, C'est le GueiTe. 

— Private James R. Brown. 



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